Liberty University
21-12
North Carolina
20-13
No. 22 North Carolina Downs Liberty, 6-0
4/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
The No. 22 North Carolina Tar Heels defeated the Liberty Flames, 6-0, in a non-conference contest, Wednesday evening at Boshamer Stadium. It was the first time this season that the Flames have been shut out in a contest.
Liberty catcher Becker Sankey had two hits, including a double, in the contest.
Liberty falls to 21-12 on the year. North Carolina moves to 20-13. The Flames finish their current five-game road swing with a 3-2 mark. The Tar Heels took both meetings with the Flames, this season. North Carolina won, 6-4, at Liberty Baseball Stadium on March 2.
Flames starting pitcher Shawn Clowers and Tar Heels starter Hunter Williams did not allow a run during four innings. Clowers allowed just one baserunner through the first four innings. Meanwhile, Williams worked out of scoring threats in the first and second innings to keep the game scoreless.
Liberty left five men on base during the first two innings. In the first, Liberty loaded the bases with one out, only to come away empty. In the second, the Flames put runners on the corners with two outs. But, Williams retired the next batter to keep the game scoreless.
After an outstanding diving catch by North Carolina left fielder Landon Lassiter stranded Liberty center fielder Ashton Perritt at third base in the top of the fifth, the Tar Heels plated the first run of the contest in the bottom of the inning. Right fielder Tyler Ramirez was hit by a pitch and first baseman Adrian Chacon walked to open the home half of the fifth. Ramirez then scored on a two-out single by third baseman Zack Gahagan for a 1-0 edge.
North Carolina extended its advantage in the sixth. After the Tar Heels loaded the bases with two outs, second Elijah Sutherland doubled to clear the bases and give North Carolina a 4-0 edge.
In the eighth, North Carolina added two insurance runs. Catcher Korey Dunbar hit his fourth home run of the season with a man aboard for what proved to be the final score of 6-0.
Clowers falls to 7-2 on the season. The left-hander allowed four runs on five hits over 5 2/3 innings. The senior struck out five and walked three batters. He entered the night tied for the national lead in wins.
Williams moves to 3-1 on the year. The freshman left-hander pitched six scoreless innings. He gave up three hits, striking out six batters and walking four. Williams combined with three other Tar Heels in recording the shutout.
Liberty collected six hits. North Carolina recorded seven. The Flames left 10 men on base, while the Tar Heels stranded four.
Liberty returns to Liberty Baseball Stadium for a three-game Big South Conference series with the Campbell Camels. The series opens Friday evening. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hunter Williams (3-1)
L: Clowers, Shawn (7-2)
Batting:
2B: Sankey, Becker 1
SH: Taormina, Sammy 1
Batting:
2B: Tyler Ramirez 1 ; Elijah Sutherland 1
HR: Korey Dunbar 1
RBI: Korey Dunbar 2 ; Elijah Sutherland 3 ; Zack Gahagan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Landon Lassiter 1 ; Tyler Ramirez 2 ; Alex Raburn 1 ; Korey Dunbar 2
SB: Adrian Chacon 1 ; Zack Gahagan 1
HBP: Tyler Ramirez 1
